The craft beer world is more popular now than every, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Did you know that according to Wikipedia, at the beginning of 2018, there were over 7,450 breweries in just the United States alone? That included over 7,300 craft breweries that were subdivided into 2,594 brewpubs, 4,522 microbreweries, and 230 regional craft breweries. The total of breweries in the United States has now climbed to more than 18,0000.
Holy cow! That’s a lot of breweries, and a whole slew of different beers for you to choose from. But how do you know which ones to try, and which ones to stay away from?
Why Is Craft Beer So Popular and Why Do People Love It So Much?
I don’t know about you, but I used to drink the same beer all the time. Part of the reason why I always drank the same beer was because I was loyal to a certain well-known lager that was brewed at my hometown brewery.
I also kept going back to the same beer because I just didn’t know what else to try. The amount of beer that filled the shelves was enormous, and it was much easier just to grab the same beer and walk away.
One of the things that I began doing, was trying out new beers that I never had before. The only problem with that, was buying a six-pack of craft beer every time I wanted to try something new, started to add up and got a little too expensive. On top of that, what made it even worse, was spending money on a style of beer that I didn’t even know if I was going to like.
I am fortunate because I live in an area that has some large liquor stores, a large commercial brewery, and a few micro-breweries as well. But what if you don’t live in a place where you have access to the enormous amounts of beer that is brewed every day all over the world?
You still have options, you can:
1) Start Brewing Your Own Beer At Home
2) Join a Craft Beer of The Month Club
Brewing Your Own Craft Beer At Home
Have you ever considered making your own beer?
Whether you just finished a long hard day at work, getting together with friends or family, or getting ready for the big game, nothing is much better than a nice refreshing beer, especially one that was brewed by you.
Being able to brew your own beer is a very rewarding experience, and a pretty simple process too. With such a wide variety of ingredients available on the market today, you can be sure you can find a beer recipe that you and your friends will love and be more than happy to drink.
Not only can brewing your own beer save you money after your initial small investment, it’s fun to do and a great hobby that can be very addicting too. And with the right equipment, you will have the opportunity to create you own styles and unique flavors of beer that you might not be able to find in and around the city that you live in.
If you have never brewed your own before, don’t worry. Unlike what you may think, making your own craft beer at home is not difficult to do at all, especially with all the beer equipment and ingredients that are readily available locally or online.
Because after your initial investment of the equipment, which won’t cost you an arm and a leg for a basic starter kit, you will be able to brew your own craft beer at a fraction of the cost of buying a few rounds at the bar, or a case of beer at the grocery store.
At Home Brewer will show you what equipment is needed to brew your very own batch of beer, or what complete beer kits we recommend when you are ready to get started.
Whether you want to brew a small 1-gallon batch, or a larger 5-gallon batch, you can check out our review of the best home beer making kits, and decide which one is best for you.
Joining A Monthly Craft Beer Club
A popular choice among the millions of beer lovers is to join a monthly craft beer club.
These clubs are a great way to stay up to date on all of the awesome beers that are being brewed all over the world, while gaining access to new styles, brands, and flavors that you normally wouldn’t be able to get.
Each month you can choose from a large selection of craft beers, based on your particular taste, that are not always available where you live, and have them shipped directly to your front door.
How convenient is that?
Final Say
Joining one of the many beer of the month clubs is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and a break from your everyday normal beer.
Besides being able to sample and try new beers that are not readily available in your area, joining a beer club can give you ideas on what kind of beer you would like to brew for you and your friends in the future, if and when you decide to buy your first beer making kit.
On top of that, a complete beer making kit and/or a subscription to a monthly beer club will make a great gift for any beer lover.
Whether you enjoy hoppy beers, rare beers, domestically brewed beers, internationally brewed beers, or a combination of all, there is a monthly beer club for you. To give you a little help, have a look at our review page of the best beer of the month clubs.
Cheers!
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